Leaked Nintendo Switch 2 case ‘almost certainly real’, analysts say

Rumor mill: Rumors and alleged leaks surrounding the Nintendo Switch’s successor have intensified in recent months as Nintendo remains silent on its plans. The skepticism surrounding the latest leak, which supposedly reveals the casing of the upcoming handheld console, isn’t surprising, but a closer look suggests it could be real.

Several images have been circulating on social media recently that may show the design of Nintendo’s next handheld. While the images are unverified, they match up with insider information about the upcoming device’s hardware and have withstood closer scrutiny.

The information dump includes screenshots of computer-aided design (CAD), photos of a disassembled unit, and a partially obscured look at a motherboard design without any chips mounted on it. The images suggest that the Switch 2 closely resembles its predecessor, with a few key differences.

A summary of today’s alleged “leaks” of Switch 2 images. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/Z4rfSGz4WQ

– Andy Robinson (@Andy_VGC) 18 September 2024

Two CAD images show the original Switch for comparison and reveal that the revised design is significantly larger. Although the Joy-Con button layouts are almost identical to those of the old Switch, the new design replaces the rail mounts with magnets. In addition, the central unit has two USB-C ports, one at the top and one at the bottom.

A user posted the images on Reddit via Chinese social media, with a source reportedly acquiring a chassis model from a company developing accessories for the upcoming device and rebuilding it to create the CAD renderings.

In theory, anyone could have created a fake design and 3D printed the case based on previous leaks, but a source privy to internal briefings Nintendo sent to outside developers told VGC that the leaked design matches theirs.

Furthermore, an analysis of the motherboard photo by Eurogamer’s Digital Foundry suggests it would have been too difficult to fake. Slots for the previously reported two 6GB LPDDR5X RAM modules are visible, and the memory interface could be 128-bit, potentially allowing for bandwidth of up to 102GB/s.

Previous leaks suggested that the Switch 2 will include 256GB of internal UFS 3.1 storage, an 8-inch screen, 4K support when docked, and Nvidia DLSS. The SoC is likely a custom Nvidia chip called the T239, based on the Ampere architecture of the GeForce RTX 3000 graphics cards. Samsung’s 8nm process is the most likely, but 6nm is also possible.

One of the few certain facts about the upcoming handheld is that Nintendo plans to unveil it before the end of the current fiscal year on April 1, 2025. The company could launch the device soon after that or later in the year.